puffer fish beak problem

[jesus fish]

Hi,

 

I have a 'friend' that has a puffer fish which has developed

a problem with an overgrown beak, is this common? And

what can my 'friend' do to solve this??

 

thanks

 

j

[technoshaman]

jesus, I haven't kept saltwater puffers but used to have brackish years ago (cute lil guys). Puffers need hard food to keep their beak worn down kind of like a beaver. If he's not eating snails and whatnot try feeding him shrimp in the shell or freeze dried krill that might help. In worst case situations sometimes the fish needs to be netted and the teeth filed down manually if it's gotten to the point he can't eat anymore - please do some research on the methods for this before trying though, hopefully it's not that bad.

[tow-up]

what i used to do for my puffer, was to put a piece of dead coral in the tank. he will wear down his beak on that.

[karlas]

i had a green spot he would nip at a stone i had in the tank but i also fed him stuff with a shell snails, crayfish, shrimp

the shells would naturally ground down the beak

 

puffers

[maroonclown]

Try going to your local fish monger and get small clams and/or oysters that are still in the shell, then put it in the tank. The puffer will do the rest. By the way, I'd do this soon, I know a few people that have had puffers die on them because their teeth were to long for it to feed.